Plainville to "Solarville"

The crossroads occupied today by the Carrier Clinic's East Mountain Hospital, just south of the Hillsborough Township border in Montgomery, has a history that goes back at least 200 years. Originally called Post Town, and later Plainville, the small settlement boasted a school house, general store, wheelwright shop, and a number of dwellings as early as 1850.

Early advertising postcard for the Belle Mead Farm Colony and Sanatorium

By the 1870s, with the introduction of first the Mercer & Somerset and then the Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad to the area, a modern Post Office was established, as well as a hotel.

Detail from 1850 Somerset County map

It wasn't until 1910 that Dr. John Joseph Kindred founded the Belle Mead Farm Colony and Sanatorium - using the new name for the area, and tying in his new venture with the Belle Mead train station just a couple of miles away.

Detail from 1873 map of Hillsborough

Just in time for its 100th anniversary next year, the Carrier Clinic has announced a $10 million project to cover 14 acres of their campus with a 1.8 megawatt ground-based solar power system. Quite a transformation from Post Town to Plainville to "Solarville".

I am not sure how much electricity the hospital uses, but their website does include electro-shock therapy under their list of services!